Wright Medical Group NV’s decision to sell its hip and knee joint business shouldn’t really have surprised anyone. [See Deal] CEO Robert Palmisano – in the eyes of one Wall Street analyst – is a “money maker” who has generated significant returns for investors by guiding businesses like eye company IntraLase Corp. and peripheral vascular player ev3 Inc. into the arms of larger strategic acquirers, Abbott Laboratories Inc.’s Abbott Medical Optics Inc. (then called Advanced Medical Optics) and Covidien Ltd., respectively. [See Deal][See Deal] Wright watchers say Palmisano had set a similar course for Wright when he joined as CEO in 2011. Early on, he divided the company into two distinct businesses, one focusing on the high-growth extremities sector and the other centered on the low-growth large joint sector. Given the divergent fates of the two sectors, it wasn’t difficult to guess which business was on the way out.
Read the full article – start your free trial today!
Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Medtech Insight for daily insights
- Start your 7-day free trial
- Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
- Access comprehensive global coverage
- Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Already a subscriber?